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LE

I'd much rather be doing FTX's, and the sort of MATTS weekends with a 6 mile insertion tab, followed by a march and shoot, followed by a tab into the ulu where you suddenly come under chemical attack conveniently next to a 9 x 9 with a grinning CBRNI outside it etc etc etc!

Unfortunately, this isn't the case. If you want to do AT, you go and do it, not join the TA for it. Funny how the attendance for an FTX or a "tough" weekend is shite, but for AT all the fat old cunts come crawling out of the woodwork.

To be fair, would that be a bad thing? As long as it was trimming the dead wood and not binning efficient soldiers who want to do the job, I'd settle for a smaller but more professional and respected TA.

"Anything worth doing is worth over-doing...moderation is for Cowards"

LE

I'd much rather be doing FTX's, and the sort of MATTS weekends with a 6 mile insertion tab, followed by a march and shoot, followed by a tab into the ulu where you suddenly come under chemical attack conveniently next to a 9 x 9 with a grinning CBRNI outside it etc etc etc!

Unfortunately, this isn't the case. If you want to do AT, you go and do it, not join the TA for it. Funny how the attendance for an FTX or a "tough" weekend is shite, but for AT all the fat old cunts come crawling out of the woodwork.

To be fair, would that be a bad thing? As long as it was trimming the dead wood and not binning efficient soldiers who want to do the job, I'd settle for a smaller but more professional and respected TA.

Trimming the dead wood is a poor analogy, particularly as the dead wood who only want to drive vans, sit in stores and churn out basic lessons are filling slots that would demoralise efficient soldiers wanting to do their job.

Cuts are cuts are cuts, they are not a means to concentrate keeness, efficency and good soldiers. good and bad get cut in similar tranches.
One sure way to get better people is to have a bigger army, that gives a wider pool to selet good potential from.

Otherwise the good end up doing more, getting fed up and looking elsewhere.

The problem with trying to do more with less is that you end up trying to do fcuking everything with nearly nothing- and thats not magic that's a tragedy.

The major didn't think of his superiors as fools, of course, since it would follow that everyone who obeyed them was a fool. He used the term 'unwise', and felt worried when he used it.

LE

I'd much rather be doing FTX's, and the sort of MATTS weekends with a 6 mile insertion tab, followed by a march and shoot, followed by a tab into the ulu where you suddenly come under chemical attack conveniently next to a 9 x 9 with a grinning CBRNI outside it etc etc etc!

Unfortunately, this isn't the case. If you want to do AT, you go and do it, not join the TA for it. Funny how the attendance for an FTX or a "tough" weekend is shite, but for AT all the fat old cunts come crawling out of the woodwork.

To be fair, would that be a bad thing? As long as it was trimming the dead wood and not binning efficient soldiers who want to do the job, I'd settle for a smaller but more professional and respected TA.

We keep on hearing this argument that a smaller, more focused (useable, relevant bollox etc) would be preferable...but, is it actually realistic?
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How would it really work? - the structures (regt system, Civil servants, command by TA officers etc) wouldn't work (would it?). Realistically, to have a force of 'ever readys', a constantly churning cohort of trained Reserves able and willing to mobilise would need to be centrally coordinated, holding Battalions maybe - run by the Regulars - orbiting enlarged RTCs (which look like the old depots more and more these days). The training would be akin to the FORM cycle and steered solely towards Ops - COE Trg paper?[/align]

Problem: Money - there isn't any. This will cost a bucket or two - although it may be from a different pot and therefore achievable whilst making a huge saving on the TA/Reserve budget.

Is this behind the RF review of HQs? If the Div and Regional Bde structures are up for grabs, the impact on the TA structure could be significant.

But is a small, agile Reserve realistic? If it is, then I think it's coming - the signs are already there. If it isn't, we'd better say so now before the TA becomes a training cycle for Ops.

Have Faith....it'll all be OK in the end (but then again, with the GCM and FR2020, maybe it won't be.....).

War Hero

Not sure why some units are having issue with AT; my unit is quite specific that if you want to go on extended AT exercises e.g. skiing then you have to be a minimum of bounty qualified the previous year and you're also expected to attend that training year's annual camp in additon. It's not a question of AT or ADC/Camp etc, that mindset doesn't and shouldn't fit in within acceptable training boundaries.

Sub-unit level AT weekends are a bit more hit and miss, but equally blokes rocking up for that should be seen out on the majority of mil skills/trade weekends as well; if not then clearly their fat, lame or lazy and need to be binned.

As for cuts in terms of AT funding, we've had no indication of anything like that, looking like at least three skiing exercises this training year, two offshore sailing exercises and a good few climbing weekends.

That is a very one dimensional way of looking at it. Many committed people can only manage 19-20 - something days a year due to external interests, family reasons, etc. In my experience it is usually people of a 'certain age', one's who have limited social skills/interests outside of the T.A. or are in agency work (RLC especailly) that turn up to every poxy event including the opening of the grand envelope.

That is a very one dimensional way of looking at it. Many committed people can only manage 19-20 - something days a year due to external interests, family reasons, etc. In my experience it is usually people of a 'certain age', one's who have limited social skills/interests outside of the T.A. or are in agency work (RLC especailly) that turn up to every poxy event including the opening of the grand envelope.

Actually I think it's more rank ranged, those below rank of SSgt invariably have less to do since they're not involved so much in the planning and organisation of training. 19 MTDs is tight I think but perhaps possible given a couple of days for MATTS and the remainder for specialist training; depends what the guys bring from their civilian jobs really.

However for the senior elements in the unit, then a limit of 19 MTDs would be a killer, most Tp SSgts and Tp OCs need a realistic minimum of 40 MTDs a year in order to ensure that decent, revelent and enjoyable training is laid on.

That is a very one dimensional way of looking at it. Many committed people can only manage 19-20 - something days a year due to external interests, family reasons, etc. In my experience it is usually people of a 'certain age', one's who have limited social skills/interests outside of the T.A. or are in agency work (RLC especailly) that turn up to every poxy event including the opening of the grand envelope.

Old-Salt

What are you all worried about?
I have friends in the TA who have done FTX`s AND AT together, as well as Cdo tng. Its called volunteering for Op tours!! Just think 6 months At & sun, you just have to duck now & then!!!!!!!
Niagra52

War Hero

Well we'll have about two more shortly thanks to the TA R Signals Plan... So they'll have plenty of time for doing all the MS, Bde tasks, Community Engagement (or whatever it is called this week), ECI prep, audits, etc, etc that MSR alludes too!

I can't wait, then we can go back to the polishing the silver, some riding, tea and toast in the mess and a jolly nice evening for all, just like a proper calvary unit

LE

I think people need to remember that the TA are volunteers. P1ss them off and treat them like sh1t and they'll start to pop smoke en masse.

Then were will we be in the current climate.

Its bad enough that the dedicated TA blokes already work alot of 7 day weeks. Now the light at the end of the tunnel for some that like the idea of an interesting weekend thrown in has just been pulled.

This could start to have ill effects for Experienced TA soldier retention.

jimmys_best_mate;3832844 said:

If BAe got the contract then we'd order a couple of Leopard Seals to deal with the penguins but we'd end up with a couple of Salmon 'fitted for but not with' teeth by 2038 at only £24bn.

LE

But take away the more rounded TA life (that arguably the Regulars still enjoy) and you end up with a body of soldiers of a quite different make up. I'm not saying that there's anything wrong with a TA made up entirely of the more green-keen fighting machine ilk, but I would argue it makes for a less diverse, and in many non-infantry roles less effective, deployable body of people. Particularly as there are notable cases where TA personnel are deployed for their civilian skills as much as their military ones, cf comms specialists, people able to re-build water supply networks, run banks and re-establish local government after our forces have removed it. Apparently that isn't the TA that is wanted or needed anymore, and all that will happen is the skills that were once held on strength , will now be outsourced privately, or not at all.